They ended up at a parts shop.

Kaylee and Wash dug around and picked up parts for Serenity, plus some new oil, coolant, bolts and washers. There were plenty of seedy men leering at the sweet mechanic for Ru to give several sobering looks as she played bodyguard. One man was particularly unsettling, so she deftly brushed her coat back to show one of her guns.

Making sure he got the message she turned to the pair, both had switched out of their nicer civilian clothes and were back in their coveralls. She noticed the amount of parts and whistled. “I don’t think we can carry all of it back.”

“We’ve been flyin’ for a long time with just luck.” Kaylee explained. “All of these are things were really need cause the parts ‘n Serenity are about ta turn ta dust.”

“It amazes me what you’ve done with the ship considering the budget Mal gives you.” Wash said while inspecting a coil. “Methinks we should have exploded a looong time ago.”

“That’s dandy, but we have ta lug all this back.” The gunhand told them, glancing over to a rather thoughtful Kaylee. “What are you thinkin' ‘lil one?”

“What to get Simon…. And Serenity.” She sighed. “Can’t find a hydraulics board.” Glancing over to Ru she gave a curious look. “Any thoughts?”

“Simon or the part.”

“Simon. I dunno what ta get him. Not like I can get somethin’ simple cause he used to be rich ‘n all. But I can’t afford nothin’ fancy, I send most of my earnin’s back home.” There was a hint of plaintive tone in her voice. “I wanna get him somethin’ perfect ya know? I think he finally likes livin’ on Serenity and we gotta shot at somethin’ and it’s Christmas…” Kaylee scuffed her shoe on the ground and let out a huff of air that curled into a cloud due to the cold “Things are goin’ so well, I wanna get the right gift.”

“Kaylee,” Wash clasped his hand on her shoulder. “When in doubt, whatever you do, do not get a man a sweater. Ok?”

“But Simon likes sweaters.”

The pilot’s face went blank as he mulled it over. “Well I guess he’s the exception then.”

“Y